§ Mr. CarmichaelTo ask the Advocate-General on how many occasions she has(a) defended and (b) intervened in court proceedings raised by other parties. [29339]
The Advocate-GeneralI have not defended any actions under the Scotland Act 1998 as none have been raised against me under that Act. I have intervened in 21 court proceedings raised by other parties under the Scotland Act. Over 1,300 devolution issue cases have been intimated to me since May 1999 and my officials and I consider these in conjunction with interested Government Departments. As I have explained to Parliament on a number of occasions I intervene, as a UK1128W Law Officer, only in special circumstances. Most cases are disposed of in the lower courts with no need for my intervention.